The Dying Dragon’s Defiance

“What’s wrong? Isn’t it obvious?”

Watching Seraphina’s astonished face, the elf narrowed her captivating eyes and chuckled mischievously. “All your magic… has been imprisoned by me, you see~”

“That’s right… This way, your [Divine Blessing] won’t be able to take effect!”

Spreading her stance, Sevilya raised her sword with both hands, holding it horizontally before her in a guarding posture.

“Come, Iqiyah, now it’s time for our fair one-on-one!”

“Strike me with all your might! Let’s see if today I finally avenge my past humiliation, or if you claim my head!”

“Arrogant human…”

With a powerful whoosh, a pair of massive wings, woven from solidified blood, unfurled behind Iqiyah.

Simultaneously, Iqiyah raised her hands, clenching them tightly, and a fierce crimson light erupted between her fists.

Roar—

A familiar roar echoed, and behind Iqiyah, the True Crimson Blood Dragon suddenly materialized.

“Since you desire destruction, I shall grant it to you!”

“Great Dragon, annihilate your foe!”

In a flash, the colossal dragon struck.

Its mountainous body abruptly rose, and a claw as thick as a pillar slammed down with tremendous force.

This was followed by a deafening crash, as the immense claw struck the ground, kicking up an overwhelming cloud of dust that obscured everyone’s vision.

“Dragon, do not stop!”

Even after unleashing such a spectacular display, Iqiyah dared not relax her guard.

After all, there was a common adage: where there’s smoke, there’s no injury.

Boom… Boom… Boom… Boom…

With the dragon’s continuous assaults, the very earth began to tremble.

Pebbles and rocks began to rain down as the basement ceiling fractured, showering countless fragments of stone and crystal.

The tremors seemed to agitate the magma flow, transforming the once-calm river into a turbulent torrent that spewed countless glittering splashes of lava.

“Hah… hah… As expected, my magic power isn’t what it used to be, is it?”

Commanding the dragon rapidly drained Iqiyah’s stamina and magic, leaving her drenched in sweat within moments.

‘No, I can’t keep this up. Seraphina can’t assist right now, and I need to conserve some strength for the battles ahead…’

With that thought, Iqiyah raised her hand, and the dragon immediately ceased its assault.

Clouds of dust billowed, separating the two sides. Under the canopy formed by the dragon’s wings, Iqiyah stared intently into the swirling mist, alert to the slightest stir.

“Iqiyah… staring so hard, aren’t you afraid of ruining your eyes?”

At the sound, Iqiyah’s small ears twitched sharply—it was Sevilya’s voice!

“You fiend! You’re alive, after all!”

Gathering all its strength, the dragon swung a claw horizontally, instantly dispersing the mist before them.

Yet, to Iqiyah’s utter dismay, even after the mist cleared, Sevilya’s figure remained nowhere in sight.

“Ugh… It seems I’ll have to use that move.”

Opening her hand, the dwindling magic flowed from Iqiyah’s fingertips, spreading like a breeze to every corner of the battlefield.

[Target Detection]

This skill could pinpoint the location of every creature visible to the naked eye within its range, making it an invaluable intelligence ability.

However, its drawback was equally apparent: activating the skill required a direct outflow of magic, resulting in substantial energy consumption.

“Iqiyah… why aren’t you attacking anymore?”

From an unseen corner, Sevilya mocked mercilessly. “Could it be… that you’re running low on magic? Hahahahaha…”

“Shut up!” Bending low, Iqiyah let her magic spread across the ground while observing her surroundings with narrowed eyes. “You don’t need to worry about me!”

“Haha! Seeing your furious expression, I knew I was right!”

As if from all directions, Sevilya’s voice echoed around Iqiyah.

“So… if you’re low on magic… why aren’t you conserving it, instead of recklessly deploying a detection spell?”

“Could it be…”

Unprepared, unaware.

The instant Sevilya’s voice paused, a damp, humid gust of air brushed against Iqiyah’s ear from behind.

“Eek!?”

“Have you actually given up? You little rat crawling on all fours?”

“Get lost!”

Whipping around, Iqiyah’s blood wings slashed through the air in a crimson arc, instantly sending Sevilya flying.

“Hmph.”

Soaring into the air, Sevilya executed a graceful turn before landing elegantly.

“My sincerest congratulations, Iqiyah…”

A gauntleted hand lightly brushed her cheek, and Sevilya wiped away a streak of crimson—a wound left by Iqiyah’s blood wing.

Though still mocking, Sevilya’s expression visibly darkened ever so slightly.

“After all that effort… to finally inflict such a minuscule wound on me, you’ve truly gone to great lengths!”

At her words, a chill ran down Iqiyah’s spine.

‘Tsk… that woman.’

‘Could it be… that after all the power I expended, I didn’t even land a single blow on her?’

A wave of dread washed over her.

“Rat… no, Iqiyah, having crossed blades twice, I suppose we’re acquainted now.”

For some reason, Sevilya’s tone shifted abruptly, and she began to speak with reason.

“Since we’re acquainted, then… as a token of our acquaintance, allow me to offer you a piece of advice.”

“Turn around. Look at yourself, look at your dragon.”

“…”

Glancing back slightly, though it was but a fleeting look, Iqiyah’s heart instantly seized in her chest.

Behind her, the dragon still towered, as massive as a mountain.

Yet, at some unknown point, its body had lost its crimson hue, turning a stony, ashen grey.

Its scales were shattered and blackened…

Its limbs were swollen and oozing pus…

And its head was so ravaged that the stark white bone beneath was exposed…

While Iqiyah knew that bathing in magma was certainly detrimental to one’s health, she had never imagined it could inflict such catastrophic damage upon the True Crimson Blood Dragon.

“The first time I saw your dragon… I thought some rare red slime had escaped from hell.”

This jab was purely Sevilya’s inability to hold back.

“Regarding that, I’m quite curious… just what are you using to command this dragon?”

“By all accounts… the enchantments on you should have worn off, shouldn’t they?”

In silence, Iqiyah wordlessly conceded Sevilya’s conjecture.

In every sense, this dragon was already dead.

To compel a deceased creature to fight on one’s behalf required not only immense magic power but also a caster with an incredibly powerful will, capable of controlling every nerve and muscle.

“Iqiyah, as a Knight, I admire strength.”

“In my estimation, your power is formidable enough to fully assume the position of the True Ancestor.”

“Therefore… my advice to you is this: lay down your weapons. We can join hands and together serve the great Goddess of Life.”

“…”

Without a word, Iqiyah turned her head, looking at Seraphina behind her, then at the worried Levian beside her, her face devoid of expression.

“You… are followers of the Goddess of Life, aren’t you?” Iqiyah turned back to Sevilya.

“That’s right,” Sevilya nodded. “And if I recall correctly, your Blood Clan also worships the Goddess of Life, don’t you?”

“…If I’m not mistaken,” Iqiyah did not answer Sevilya’s question, “your purpose in coming here is to find Seraphina, isn’t it?”

She recalled Sevilya mentioning something about lost siblings—no, sisters—in any case, it had something to do with gender transformation.

Among everyone present, only Seraphina fit the description of transforming from male to female.

“Can you tell me… why you’re looking for her?”

Iqiyah’s brow furrowed, her gaze icy and filled with resolute determination.

“…I’m sorry, I cannot disclose that.”

With an equally cold stare, Sevilya met Iqiyah’s gaze with a frigid retort.

“…So it truly is something you cannot disclose?”

She did not sigh, for Iqiyah had already made her decision even before asking that question.

In truth, there were not many things Iqiyah truly cherished.

The Prince’s status, a seat on the council, the Blood Manor… even the Scarlett surname she often spoke of, she could relinquish them all.

But… for Seraphina alone, she would not make any concessions.

Because… Seraphina had saved her life twice.

Because… Seraphina was willing to brave any danger for her.

Because… she often saw Seraphina’s silhouette merge with that of a dear departed friend, stirring an endless longing within her.

‘Cannot disclose’… implied potential harm.

And she would never allow anyone to lay a hand on the treasure that was uniquely hers.

“Then, we have nothing further to discuss.”

Mustering her dwindling magic, Iqiyah painstakingly controlled the deceased dragon’s body, its bloodless form rising defiantly once more, as she struggled to support her trembling legs.

“Before you step over my corpse, you won’t touch a single hair on her.”